Berean Study Bible | International Standard Version |
1Then Elihu continued: | 1Elihu continued speaking, and said: |
2“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. | 2"Listen to what I have to say, you wise men! Pay attention to me, you educated people! |
3For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food. | 3Since the ear tests words like a palate tastes food, |
4Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. | 4let's choose what's right for us. Let's consider among ourselves what is good." |
5For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice. | 5Now this is Job's claim: 'Even though I'm innocent, God has stopped treating me righteously. |
6Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’ | 6Have I lied concerning the justice that I deserve? My wound is incurable, though transgression cannot be attributed to me.' |
7What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water? | 7"What man is like Job, who drinks mockery like water, |
8He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men. | 8traffics in those who practice evil, and walks with wicked people? |
9For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’ | 9Because he says, 'There's no profit for a man to find joy with God.'" |
10Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly. | 10"Therefore you men of understanding, listen to me! Far be it for God to practice wickedness, or the Almighty to do what is wrong, |
11For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences. | 11because he repays a person for his behavior; and according to a person's conduct, he lets it happen to him. |
12Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice. | 12Truly, God doesn't practice wickedness, and the Almighty doesn't pervert justice. |
13Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world? | 13Who entrusted the earth to him? Who made him responsible for the entire inhabited world? |
14If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath, | 14If he were to decide to do so, that is, to take back to himself his spirit and breath of life, |
15all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. | 15every living thing would die all at once, and mankind would return to dust." |
16If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words. | 16If you have understanding, listen to this! Pay attention to what I have to say: |
17Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One, | 17Can one who hates justice really govern? And if God is righteous and mighty, can you condemn him? |
18who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’ | 18Can one say to a king, 'You're vile!' or to nobles, 'You're wicked!'? |
19who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands. | 19Who isn't partial to princes? Who doesn't give preference to the nobles over the poor? Nevertheless, all of them are his handiwork. |
20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. | 20"They die suddenly, in the middle of the night; people suffer seizures and pass away; even valiant men can be taken away— and not by human hands. |
21For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step. | 21Yes, Job, his eyes constantly watch the behavior of human beings; he carefully observes their every step. |
22There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide. | 22There's no such thing as darkness to him— not even deep darkness— that can conceal those who practice evil. |
23For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment. | 23He won't examine mankind further, that they would go before God to judgment. |
24He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place. | 24He shatters valiant men without a need to investigate, and he raises others in their place. |
25Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. | 25Thus he acknowledges their behavior, and overcomes them; when night time comes, they are crushed. |
26He strikes them for their wickedness in full view, | 26"He strikes the wicked among them in a place where they can be seen |
27because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways. | 27because they've abandoned their pursuit of him and had no respect for any of his ways. |
28They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted. | 28As a result, the cries of the poor have reached him and he has heard the cry of the afflicted. |
29But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation, | 29"If he remains silent, who will condemn him? If he conceals his face, who can see him? He watches over both nation and individual alike, |
30that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people. | 30to keep the godless man from reigning or laying a snare for the people." |
31Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more. | 31"Has anyone ever really told God, 'I've endured, and I won't act corruptly anymore. |
32Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’ | 32What I don't see, instruct me! If I've done anything evil, I won't repeat it!' |
33Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know. | 33"Should you not be paid back, since you have rejected him? You do the choosing! I won't! Tell us what you know! |
34Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say: | 34"Men of understanding, speak to me! Are any of you men wise? Then listen to me! |
35‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’ | 35Job has been speaking from his own ignorance, and what he has to say lacks insight! |
36If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man. | 36Oh, how Job needs to be given a full court trial, as a rebuke to those who practice evil, |
37For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” | 37because he has been adding rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and keeps on ranting against God." |
The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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